With most of the Raiders top players on both sides of the ball sitting on the sidelines, the Cardinals sailed through the Raiders defense in the first half of their preseason opener Saturday night. It was a commanding 17-0 lead into the final seconds before the Raiders were able to put points on the board with a last second field goal from Giorgio Tavecchio.
Carson Palmer marched down the field for an opening touchdown against a Raiders defense without Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin. Cory James was racking up the tackles, but the Cardinals were racking up the third down conversion. And even when they finally stopped one, an illegal formation would give the Cards a first down. Three plays later, they would finish it off with a touchdown.
EJ Manuel took the field to start for the Raiders with Derek Carr sitting this one out. All other starting receivers sat with him.